Sedgwick v Varzonek [2015] NSWSC 1275

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sedgwick v Varzonek [2015] NSWSC 1275 Hearing dates: 23 & 24 October 2014 Date of orders: 14 September 2015 Decision date: 14 September 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: Plaintiff's Succession Act claim and contract claim fail. Plaintiff succeeds in equitable estoppel. Catchwords: EQUITY – claim for family provision – eligibility as de facto partner – eligibility due to close personal relationship – nature of plaintiff's relationship with the deceased – equitable estoppel – whether statements were promissory or created expectations or assumptions on plaintiff's part upon which deceased might anticipate that plaintiff would rely. Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987, s 21C Legal Profession Act 2004 Mental Health Act 1990, Chapter 4, Part 3 Mental Health Act 2006, Part 2, Division 3 Property (Relationships) Act, s 5(1) Succession Act 2006, s 57, Chapter 3 Cases Cited: Balfour v Balfour [1919] 2 KB 571 Bar-Mordecai v Hillston [2004] NSWCA 65 Dridi v Fillmore [2001] NSWSC 319 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community (2002) 209 CLR 95. Fung v Ye [2007] NSWCA 115 Harkness v Harkness [2011] NSWSC 1421 R v Reis [2005] NSWSC 707 Sharpless v McKibbin [2007] NSWSC 1498 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2005) 251 CLR 505 Walton's Stores (Interstate) Limited v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Richard Charles Sedgwick Defendant: Krystyna Varzonek Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: M. Willmott SC; A. Blank Defendant: P.O'Loughlin